THE vast majority of people in Sussex think stronger Covid restrictions need to be put in place to curb the rising rate of the virus, an Argus poll has shown.

This comes almost a week after the entire county was placed in Tier 4, the government's highest level of coronavirus restrictions.

People in Tier 4 areas have been urged to "stay at home" whenever possible, and many businesses such as non-essential retailers and hospitality venues have been forced to shut.

The Argus: North Street in Brighton yesterday morning as the city remains under Tier 4 restrictionsNorth Street in Brighton yesterday morning as the city remains under Tier 4 restrictions

But 73 per cent of the 2,041 votes cast in the Argus poll asking if residents "think Tier 4 restrictions will be enough to curb the rising coronavirus rate in Sussex" said they "think stronger restrictions should be put in place".

A further 12 per cent said they believed Tier 4 measures were apt and would work in suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in the county. 

Meanwhile, the remaining 15 per cent want the restrictions currently in place to be reduced.

The tier each area of England is placed in is decided by the government after reviewing five factors:

– case detection rates in all age groups
– case detection rates in the over-60s
– the rate at which cases are rising or falling
– the positivity rate – the number of positive cases detected as a percentage of tests taken
– Pressure on the NHS, including current and projected occupancy

Over the past week, there have been reports that a new "Tier 5" of coronavirus restrictions could be considered in Tier 4 areas where the number of cases is continuing to rise.

The Argus: Brighton and Hove is under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictionsBrighton and Hove is under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions

A senior Whitehall source told The Express that the government is "ruling nothing out" as "the new strain is of serious concern" and "Tier 4 appears to not be strong enough".

The source described the heightened measures as "another level on to Tier 4, so like a Tier 5".

But another Whitehall source told The Telegraph on Tuesday that the expansion of Tier 4 was more likely than the introduction of Tier 5 in the "immediate future".

The expansion of Tier 4 was announced by the government last night with The Midlands, North East, parts of the North West and parts of the South West among the areas to face harsher restrictions.